Human trafficking is one of the fastest-growing criminal industries in the world. During 2021, the Child Advocacy Center received 959 cases of reported child abuse which is a 9.5% increase from the previous year. 514 forensic interviews were conducted at the center which is a 4% increase from the previous year. 568 families received victim family advocate services providing direct aid as well as assisting them in accessing much-needed resources.

“Every year January is known as Human Trafficking Awareness Month and every year we do something around the topic,” said Faith Boehmer, prevention and volunteer coordinator of the Child Advocacy Center. “We have designed two community cafes that will take place in January where we will have individuals come in, have some dialogue around the tables to discuss the issue, and talk about what is going on in our community.”

Boehmer added they are also doing a Speaker Series focusing on the impact of human trafficking. One speaker is Dr. Dean Duncan, UNC Chapel Hill Research Professor and his topic is “Demand Reduction.” Courtney Dunkerton from the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault will speak about “What You Need To Know About Human Trafficking In North Carolina.”

This year the Child Advocacy Center had an 11-year-old female come to the center twice. The child was communicating with a male stranger through messaging on a social media app. The stranger paid for a lift to take her to a motel. The girl was reported missing. Law enforcement found her in the motel with the older male stranger. Children do not divulge information so it is hard to prove human trafficking because children will not talk about it for a variety of reasons.

“Most tweens and teenagers who have been seen at the Child Advocacy Center are in the age range of 11-years-old to 16-years-old,” said Boehmer. “They are meeting older men online through social media messaging apps as well as dating apps such as Badoo, Instagram, Tik-Tok, and Snapchat.”

She added, “They connect online, arrange to meet, and the older man provides the transportation for them to meet at the hotel.”

This writer asks, Parents, please talk to your children about the dangers of talking to strangers in person and online using social media apps. I am an elementary principal and my Friday afternoon announcements entail telling my elementary babies to be aware of “Stranger Danger.” I tell them they should not talk to strangers or take any money, food, candy, or help strangers look for their pets. They are taught that if a stranger approaches them online, they are to run and tell their parents immediately. We have got to protect our babies and young teens from the dangers of human trafficking. Sit down tonight and have that conversation with your child.

“We have created a prayer guide that we are going to be sending out to the faith community that will bring more awareness about human trafficking,” said Boehmer.

For more information visit www.CACFayNC.org or call (910) 486-9700.